From L to R: Stephanie Ondersma as Pepa and Cassandra Jansma as Candela rehearse a scene from “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”

Up next for the Flat River Community Players is a relatively new musical, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” Coming to the Greenville Area Community Center in July, “Women on the Verge” is based on the 1988 Pedro Almodovar movie classic of the same title. In 2011, Bartlett Sher, Jeffrey Lane, and David Yazbek took the affecting yet funny tale, gave it a satirical comic style, and set it to an enticing Latin beat.

“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” is a story about miscommunication, coincidences, and crossed-paths.  It’s about the fury of women scorned and the men who sometimes pursue and sometimes reject them. It’s about the choices we make, both good and bad, and the consequences every step of the way.

Central to the plot is Pepa (Stephanie Ondersma), a gal whose friends and lovers are trying to navigate life in 1980s Madrid.  Somehow, everyone keeps dropping by her apartment. Good thing Pepa keeps gazpacho on hand to serve company!

Along with Pepa, there’s her missing and possibly cheating lover, Ivan (Ryan Garlick), and Ivan’s ex-wife, Lucia (Shannon Rop), whose mental stability is highly questionable. Candela (Cassandra Jansma) is Pepa’s best friend.  She’s excited about her new boyfriend, Malik (Shawn Jansma), but he seems to have nefarious ties to a terrorist group. Carlos (Caleb Kellogg) is Ivan and Lucia’s son, and Marisa (Cynthia Karaba) is his girlfriend.

The Taxi Driver (Tim Addis) supplies Pepa with much needed advice and tissues, and more wisdom with shoulders to cry on come from Ivan’s Concierge (Charlotte Ambrose) and Pepa’s Concierge (Mercedes Gonzalez).  Others in the cast are:  Hector (Nathan LaLone), Rosalia (Mary McDonough), Paulina (April Bohjanen),the Repairman (Doug Christianson), and the Detective (Raymond Koren).

Kent Schuster directs “Women on the Verge.”  He has wanted to direct this show ever since hearing the movie was being adapted into a stage musical.  “I’ve always loved low-budget, independent, foreign films,” he explains. “I love the weirdness of them, and Pedro Almodovar is my favorite director.”

Kent is assisted on this production by a terrific staff. Musically, Katy McDonough takes on vocal direction and Skye Hayes handles instrumental direction.  Joseph Curry serves as Choreographer, Brittany Bassett as Tech Director, and Becky Tower as Costumer. Pat Cradit is the producer for this FRCP show.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. on July 7, 8, 14 and 15. There will be a 2:00 PM matinee on Sunday, July 9.  Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors (60 and over), and $11 for students (18 and under).

General seating admission tickets are available at the Greenville Area Community Center during regular business hours Monday through Friday.  Tickets may be reserved online with MasterCard or VISA at www.flatriver.showclix.com (or by phone at 1-888-71-TICKETS).  Call the Players at (616) 754-8207 if you have questions or concerns.

The FRCP does caution parents.  “Women on the Verge” is a PG-13 rated show. It includes a little strong language and adult situations that may not be suitable for younger kids.

The trailer for the movie version of this show goes something like this:  “It’s a romance, but it’s not about love.  It’s a comedy, but not everyone’s laughing.  A deliriously deranged comedy that follows no rules, spares no victims, takes no prisoners.”  Yup, that’s “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” Don’t miss it!

Bud “the Stud” Davis and his Ladies. From L to R front: Rocky Hutchinson, Greg VanderMark, Sandy Cote. Back: Pat Cradit and Kathy Craig during a recent rehearsal.

GREENVILLE—The Flat River Community Players open their 43rd season of community theatre with the comedy, Sex Please We’re Sixty. This hilariously frisky farce is by playwrights Michael and Susan Parker.

The story involves the Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast establishment, a charming and cozy getaway whose guests—nearly all women—tend to return from one year to the next.  To the chagrin of the B&B’s proprietress, Mrs. Stancliffe (Pat Cradit), her next-door neighbor Bud “the Stud” Davis (Greg VanderMark) believes these vacationing ladies really come to have romantic liaisons with him. Despite her own prim and proper behavior, Mrs. S. knows that Bud is good for business!

Meanwhile Henry Mitchell (Leonard Cradit), her other neighbor and “gentleman caller,” has developed an as yet untested “little blue pill” for menopausal ladies. Three ladies, guests at the B&B, complete the picture: Victoria Ambrose (Roxanne Hutchinson), Hillary Hudson (Sandy Cote), and Charmaine Beauregard (Kathy Craig). When Bud attempts to entertain all three gals and they mix up Bud’s Viagra pills with Henry’s experimental drug, they soon learn what happens to each gender when they take the wrong pill! All those hot flashes, mood swings, weeping, and irritability make for plenty of mayhem and belly laughs!

Deb Dieckman directs Sex Please We’re Sixty. Working with her on the show are Roxanne Hutchinson as producer, Brittany Bassett as tech director/stage manager, Jessica Gilbertson as costumer, and Skip Schuster and Brad Wagbo as set designers/builders. Mark Dombroske is preparing scene music for the production.

Performances are at the Greenville Area Community Center on April 21, 22, 28 & 29 at 7:30 p.m., and there is a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 23. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for students 18 and under, and $11 for seniors 60 and over. They are available at the Greenville Area Community Center during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be reserved online with MasterCard or VISA at ShowClix.com.  Call the Players at (616) 754-8207 if you have questions or concerns.

By Deb Dieckman 

Back in the “Dark Ages” when I was a junior in college at CMU, some friends and I went to see a new movie at one of the downtown theaters.  It was the old kind of movie house, only one screen, and no one taking tickets or making sure everyone left when the show was over. The movie proved to be so hilarious, so cool and different, my friends and I stayed and watched it a second time that night without paying again. Whoops! What movie was so amazing, you ask? It was “Young Frankenstein,” the now-classic flick by the brilliant Mel Brooks, starring the great Gene Wilder, brilliant Madelyn Kahn, and gorgeously silly Terri Garr.

Fast-forward a few decades, and Brooks, with help from writer Thomas Meehan has created a stage musical version of “Young Frank,” produced here in Greenville this summer by our own Flat River Community Players. Largely in the tradition of his earlier smash musical “The Producers,” Brooks sticks to that Vaudeville-like recipe of splashy numbers full of giggles, bawdy double-entendres, and plenty of goofy dance breaks.

The storyline follows the 1974 film pretty closely; it’s essentially the tale of a brilliant American doctor who finds his heart (among other body parts) in Transylvania. Many of the movie’s best gags have been transplanted directly into the play.

Players starring in the musical are Whitney Codling as Elizabeth Benning, Frederick’s fiancee from the U.S.; Ryan Garlick as Inspector Hans Kemp, who investigates local mysterious goings-on; Ric Davenport as the Hermit, a blind man who befriends the monster; Cynthia Ranae Karaba as Ziggy and Raymond Koren as Herald.  The chorus, playing villagers and ancestors, includes Shawn Jansma, Mackenzee Thompson, Kevin Klutman, Sawyer Klutman, Sydney Klutman, Macy Risch, Hallie Sage, Samantha Shaw, Karaba, Harris, and Davenport.

Directing “Young Frankenstein” for the FRCP is Amanda Hall with music direction by Bryan Felt. Stage Management is by Karin Wahlfeldt, while Brittany Bassett takes on tech direction.  Greg VanderMark provides vocal coaching, Jessica Gilbertson is creating the costumes, and Tammy Hollinshead designed the set.  Kent “Skip” Schuster serves as producer.

Five performances of “YF” will show at the Greenville Area Community Center.  Opening on Friday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m., the show continues on July 9, 15, and 16, also at 7:30 p.m.  A 2:00 p.m. matinee will be on Sunday, July 10. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for students under 18, and $11 for senior citizens over 60. They may be purchased with MasterCard or VISA online at Showclix (http://www.flatriver.showclix.com/www.flatriver.showclix.com) or by phone at 1-888-71-TICKETS. Tickets should also be available at the door before performances. Please note, this show includes adult humor and situations.  Parental discretion is advised.

In commenting on the audience’s reaction to the musical, Mel Brooks has said, “I love what they do. The audience knows Young Frankenstein the movie; they didn’t know The Producers. They all neigh when anyone on stage says ‘Frau Blucher.’ And they can’t wait for the Blind Hermit to spill the hot soup on the monster’s lap. It’s great to see the audience play ping-pong with the actors.”

The Flat River Community Players will present “9 to 5” in July. The show opens July 10, with additional shows July 11, 12, 17 and 18. Pictured from left to right is Emily Smith (Doralee), Lindsay Tallian (Judy), Ric Davenport (Mr. Hart), and Brenda Jolls (Violet).

“Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’!” Can’t you just hear Dolly Parton singing this from the iconic movie, “9 to 5”?  Well, get ready because the Flat River Community Players will present their production of Dolly’s stage musical of “9 to 5” at the Greenville Area Community Center coming up in July!

Women who loved the female-empowerment movie in the 1980s might want to bring their daughters to see this production, which is still relevant in 2015. This stage version of the workplace tale still has the three secretaries joining forces to bring their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot of a boss to heel, but their own worlds and backgrounds are more fully developed with songs, mates, and some new scenes. Of course, their plan spins completely out of control bringing wild hilarity with it!

Stage director Amanda Hall and music director Katy McDonough have chosen a funny and diverse cast for “9 to 5.” Brenda Jolls (Violet Newstead), Emily Rice Smith (Doralee Rhodes), and Lindsay Tallian (Judy Bernly) star in the Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda roles respectively. Longtime FRCP veteran Ric Davenport tackles the Dabney Coleman role of Franklin Hart, Jr., the chauvinist who makes the gals’ lives miserable at the office.

The stage musical follows the movie quite closely as the three unlikely friends take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can’t do, even in a man’s world! Music and lyrics are by the great Dolly Parton and the book of the musical is by Patricia Resnick, who wrote the film’s screenplay.

Besides the well known title song, the show features 16 new Parton songs written especially for the show.

“9 to 5” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Additional 7:30 p.m. performances are on July 11, 17 and 18, with a matinee at 2:00 p.m. on July 12. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for students and senior citizens.

Order tickets in advance with VISA or Mastercard, either by using the ShowClix link at the Players’ website (www.frcp.org) or at the ShowClix site (www.flatriver.showclix.com). If you prefer, call 1-888-71-TICKETS instead.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

April 17-19, 25-26

Opening the Flat River Community Players’ 41^st season is a funny, touching story about the bonds between friends. The Dixie Swim Club is by the writing team of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. The Players produced their comedy, Dearly Beloved, in 2012.

Opening at the Greenville Area Community Center, on April 17, Dixie follows five feisty gals who met years ago while members of their college swim team. They gather for a reunion at the same cottage every year and catch up on each other’s highs and lows of life. The play is kind of a mix of the heart-warming southern charm of Steel Magnolias and the sassy, fast-paced zingers of The Golden Girls. These ladies will make you laugh, inspire you, and send you home to hug your loved ones.

The FRCP production stars Patty Rockafellow as Jeri Neal McFeeley. She also has performed in the FRCP musicals Seussical, The Great American Trailer Park, and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.

Veteran Player Jessica Gilbertson takes on the role of Dinah Grayson. She was last seen as Nurse Ratchet in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Also the group’s head costumer, Jessica sees this show as a rare chance to get onstage. “I can get away without having to build many costumes from scratch,” she explains.

Roxanne Hutchinson joins the cast to play Vernadette Simms. This will be Roxanne’s first time onstage since junior high school. She was inspired to get involved after her grandson appeared in a middle school play.

Donita Coughlin returns to the FRCP stage after a four-year absence, to play Sheree Hollinger. She also performed in Cinderella, Nunsense, The Laramie Project, A Grand Night For Singing, And Sight Unseen.

Becky Tower will play the role of Lexie Richards. Her past FRCP productions include Dearly Beloved And Escanaba In Love.  She’s also appeared in a few dinner/theater plays at the Community Center.

Lyle Fales is directing, assisted by Denise Webb. Fales previously directed Dearly Departed, All My Sons, Escanaba In Da Moonlight, Eleemosynary. Hilda Sorvari is the show’s producer.

The Dixie Swim Club opens on April 17 with additional performances on April 18, 19 and 25, 26.  All curtains are 7:30 PM except for the Sunday matinee on the 19^th at 2:00 PM.  Tickets are $13 adults, $11 students and senior citizens.  Order tickets in advance with VISA or Mastercard, either online at www.flatriver.showclix.com or by using the ShowClix link at the Players’ website, www.frcp.org.  Or call 1-888-71-TICKETS.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

January 20-23, tickets available now

The Greenville Area Community Center will host the 2011 Comedy Dinner Theater, Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch, January 20-23. We find hero, Harry Heartstone, in hot pursuit of the villainous outlaw Snipe Vermin.  There is something awfully familiar about these two—in fact, they’re twin brothers! A lovely lady sheriff, an evil proprietress, an outlaw sidekick, and a stranded actress are some of the other characters you will see at the Roaring Gulch Hotel.  Delicious catering will be provided by Huckleberry’s before each performance. The menu will include Country-Fried Steak or Country-Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, Jonny Cake (a.k.a. Cornbread), Mac & Cheese, Salad, Root Beer, and Fruit Cobbler. Tickets for the show and dinner are $20, and are $15 for the show only. Performances are: Thursday, January 20 performance only; Friday, January 21, and Saturday, January 22 with dinner at 6:00 p.m. and the show starting at 7:00 p.m.; and on Sunday, January 23 with dinner at 1:00 p.m. and the show starting at 2:00 p.m. For more information please call the Greenville Area Community Center at (616) 754-9163.

A Priority Health Medicare Educational Meeting will take place on December 10, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., at the Greenville Area Community Center located at 900 E. Kent Rd. Greenville, MI 48838.